Niti Aayog Report: Over 1 Lakh Schools Lack Power; 98,000 Without Girls' Toilets
Why it matters
The May 2026 Niti Aayog report offers a diagnostic look at India's school system, focusing on basic utility access rather than enrollment. With over 1,00,000 schools lacking electricity, the National Education Policy's push for digital literacy faces a massive logistical hurdle. The absence of power makes the rollout of smart classrooms and digital tools nearly impossible in these regions.
Sanitation remains a significant barrier to education, particularly for female students. The report identifies 98,592 schools without functional girls' toilets, a factor closely linked to increased dropout rates among adolescent girls. Additionally, 61,540 schools lack any usable toilet facilities entirely. While national schemes like Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya have made progress, a substantial infrastructure deficit persists at the state level, necessitating immediate budgetary intervention.
| Infrastructure Deficit | School Count |
|---|---|
| Lack of electricity | Over 1,00,000 |
| No functional girls' toilet | 98,592 |
| No usable toilet facility | 61,540 |
Glossary
Niti Aayog: The National Institution for Transforming India, the Union government's primary policy think tank.
Gender Parity Index: A statistical tool used to measure equal access to education between male and female students.
NaukriSync Exam Angle
Governance & Indian Society. Memorise the May 2026 Niti Aayog data points: 98,592 schools lack functional girls' toilets and over 1 lakh operate without electricity. This data is relevant for analysis of educational reforms and infrastructure gaps in primary education.